DERRY — Thirteen staff members from Derry Medical Center will be participating in the Boston Breast Cancer 3-Day walk as part of a national effort to raise money for breast cancer research.
Julie McGinnis, a physician assistant at the medical center, has participated in the walk in the past.
"When each walker commits to this event, they are pledging to walk 60 miles over three days. In addition, each walker has to raise $2,200 in donations," she said. "This is a pretty daunting task for each team member, and means that as a whole, our team will need to raise $28,600 before the walk kicks off in August."
To help reach this goal, Derry Medical Center and Spindel Eye Associates will be holding a silent auction on Friday, June 27, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Overlook Medical Park at 6 Tsienneto Road. Organizers hope to collect over 100 auction items, with all proceeds donated to the DMC Breast Cancer 3-Day pledge.
"We will have all types of auction items," said McGinnis. "Spindel Eye Associates has donated Laser Vision correction surgery; we also have received gift certificates, gift baskets, and artwork from local business and organizations, staff and patients. It should be a fun evening with music and light appetizers, and a wonderful way to help support a great cause."
Since its inception in 2003, more than $220 million has been raised through Breast Cancer 3-Day donations, contributions and sponsorships. Eighty-five percent of the net proceeds of this event go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Advancements in breast cancer research, treatment, education and prevention in the last 25 years have been touched by a Komen for the Cure grant. The remaining 15 percent of net funds goes to the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund to provide a permanent endowment for ongoing support of breast cancer initiatives.
Breast cancer is the leading cancer among American women, and an estimated 40,460 women and 450 men will die from breast cancer in 2008. Surprisingly, only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are due to heredity. The majority of women with breast cancer have no known significant family history or other known risk factors.
The Derry Medical Center team will be participating in the Boston 3-Day on Aug. 15-17. For more information about the silent auction or to make a donation, contact Julie McGinnis at 537-1370 or via e-mail at jmcginnis@derrymedicalcenter.com.
